The gate flared as the security teams gathered at the ramp and around the SGC, all holding their weapons at ready, even though the iris opened. SG2 had been gone a long time, and no one knew where they'd been or what might have happened to them. Or what they might be bringing back. If it was indeed them.
The gate flared again, and this time a form appeared. Then another. Then another. All three tumbled to the floor, and two lay still. The third one staggered to his feet, turning back towards the gate.
"Don't close the iris, the colonel is coming!" He was dirty, and wearing ragged fatigues, but he was a member of SG2, and the iris stayed open. The young major stood still, watching the gate breathlessly as medics swarmed the ramp, checking the two fallen soldiers for injuries. They found plenty. Both men were bleeding, as was the young major. He shrugged off the medics, more intent on the gate than his wounds. Jack O'Neill walked up the ramp, looking down at the injured men, noting that their wounds looked as though staff weapons had caused them. He stopped next to the major.
"Anderson?"
"She's coming, Sir, She was right behind us, laying down cover fire."
"Was she hurt?"
"Not badly enough to stop her." He was interrupted by the arrival of Hammond, who stopped and stood next to the two men.
"Major Anderson? Where's colonel Mitch-"
Another flare was all the warning they had as another form came through the gate at high speed, tumbling into the three men and knocking all of them to the ground in a heap, with her underneath. They scrambled to their feet, and Jack pulled the newcomer up, even as Hammond supported Anderson, who was obviously unsteady on his feet.
"Close the iris!
The gate was shut down immediately and Hammond turned to ask what had happened when Carter stepped forward.
"Excuse me, Sir," she said as she reached out with her right hand and touched Anderson's cheek, her eyes filled with concentration as she studied the young major. Satisfied, she moved slightly and repeated the process with Mitchell, although she was careful to avoid the bleeding gash on the Colonel's forehead. Finally she backed away a step and smiled a true smile of welcome.
"They're all clean, Sir. No Gou'ld."
Anderson nodded, and straightened up a bit, realizing that it a was a General that was holding him steady, and Hammond turned to Mitchell, who was still tightly held by O'Neill, and was leaning into his side gratefully.
"Colonel Mitchell, where have you and SG2 been?"
"Walking, Sir," she answered, forcing herself a little more upright.
Realizing that they were both hurt and needed to be looked at, Hammond simply nodded, and beckoned towards the waiting medics. "We'll debrief in an hour, unless I hear otherwise from Doctor Fraiser."
"Yes Sir," came the response from both of them. Hammond left the Gate room, and Jack gave Mitchell a quick hug. "God, I'm glad to see you. You have no idea how worried I was about you!"
Mitchell smiled, touched by his show of affection, "I have a good idea," she said. "I'd have been just as worried if it had been you."
"The walk was one thing, but not shooting back when you're fired at is another matter entirely," Anderson said as they walked out of the gate room and down the hall.
"Not firing back?" Jack asked. "What do you mean?"
"Just what it sounds like, Jack," Mitchell answered, unwilling to get into a long story when all she really wanted was a chance to get an aspirin for the pounding in her head. "Why don't you come to the debriefing? I'll bet you find it interesting."
"I'll do that," O'Neill said as they reached the door to the infirmary and he released his firm hold on Mitchell when another medic stepped forward to take her.
"Bring your team. They might find it interesting as well, and I have a few questions for Doctor Jackson."
"You got it." Although he had a million more questions, O'Neill left the room then, knowing that Fraiser wouldn't let him stay even if he wanted to. Instead, he went to round up the rest of his team, knowing that if Melony thought he'd find their debriefing interesting, he would.